Year Of The Blog

I started this blog exactly 1 year ago. I use it like a diary. For the past few months I've been blogging almost everyday. I like being able to put down my thoughts online. It might be something specific or just plain nonsense. It just represents who I am and what I'm thinking. Happy New Year!

New Running Shoes

I ended up buying a pair of new running shoes yesterday. They are Saucony Type A4 sneakers and I just had to get them. The running shoes are so light. I went for a practice run this morning and they felt great. However, I won't be wearing them this Sunday when I run in a Half Marathon. I need a few more training sessions. I'll wear the sneakers I wore last year. I do look forward to using the new sneakers in 2012.

I Want My MP3

So I've joined a couple of sites that allow me to showcase my music. I songs I wrote & recorded were on CD and then transfered onto the comupter. When I tried to put them on the music sites, I was informed that an MP3 player was needed in order to make it work. It's amazing how the technology is these days. People from around the world can read my writings. Yet at times I struggle with the technological aspects of putting things online. When I grow up, I hope to be a computer geek.

Take It From The Top

So often the New Year represents a start to different experiences. I'm sure that will be the case in 2012. Things will be different on a personal & professional level. I'll meet new people and work in new locations. Yet I still have my family & friends who see me through life. Balance of the old and the new.

Play With Words

Good Morning To All Today!

The Bottom Line

It's the end of the year and I'm looking at the results for Pat Irish Company Incorporated LLC. The recession affected us all. Yet we here at PICIL want to keep providing the same great service to all of our customers. That's why we look forward to 2012. The possibilities for profit are there. The mantra here at PICIL is, "We're happy when you're happy!"

Cheers;
Pat Irish
CEO

Counting Down

There are 365 days until Christmas and I'm taking Leap Year into consideration.

Thank You Santa

The Christmas Tradition Continues!

The Front Desk Artwork

A funny happened on the way to putting together the Cardboard Art I was working on yesterday. I ended up creating the artwork for my rock opera THE FRONT DESK. It wasn't my intention to do have that happen, yet there it is. I realize Cardboard Art can be 2 sided. I used 2 pieces of cardboard both around 11" x 14" in size and created color patters on either side of the cardboard. Flip one card around and you have a different image. Pretty neat stuff.

Cardboard Art

While I was cleaning up my bedroom and organizing my artwork yesterday, it hit me to take pieces of color paper and glue them onto sheets of cardboard. I was thinking these would be great props for any live gigs I do next year. Cardboard Art would be light and easy to hang around. I could also take small pieces of Cardboard Art and put them on the tables. It would be neat to take larger pieces of cardboard and creating murals. I then came up with the idea of Bulletin Board Art where I take a large mural and continually glue paper onto it. So many possibilities.

2012 Preview

It's my plan on New Year's Day to run a Half Marathon and then take part in a Jam Session. That would be a great way to start 2012.

Winter Solstice

Today is the Winter Solstice. It is also known as, "The shortest day of the year." After today, the days get a little lighter. Yet around these parts, it doesn't get any warmer. That won't happen for a few more months. It's now officially Winter Training Season. Stretching, running and weights are the workout routine.

All Good Things

It's been a day where I feel a great amount of accomplishment. I'm able to get at all the things I wanted to do. Nice indeed.

Bandcamp & Reverbnation

I signed up for a couple of music related sites over the past few days. One is called Bandcamp and the other is Reverbnation. They allow you to post music you've recorded and put it online. I have several songs I've written on CDs and now I have to transfer them to the MP3 setup. Oh the wonders of technology.

New Workweek

Monday always represents a new workweek. Since there's no rain in the forecast, I'll run later this morning. I didn't run yesterday because my lower back was sore and I felt tired. It was best for me to give it a rest. I did however trained with weights. I went easy with the repetitions though. I feel better today so I'm ready for the busy workweek.

Game Time Decision

It will be a game time decision whether I go out and run today. If I do, then I'll get my 35 miles of running in for the week. It's just that I'm not feeling too good. My body has been aching for the past few days now. I'm just not sure if it's a bug or I'm sore from training? My lower back on right side is sore and I had stomach cramps last night. I'll see how I feel as the day goes on. Sometimes rest is the best answer.

Creative Integrity

Last night I went out a saw a bunch of people I grew up with. The main reason for me being out was that childhood friends of mine were performing music. Pete Nobile, Greg Phillips and Ricky Muscat were jamming and it was a confirmation of the integrity of being creative. These are people who have been playing music of over 3 decades now. I've always gravitated to musicians, artists and actors. The ones who took it seriously all these years are still doing it today. We will always do it because it's as essential to us. Last night only confirms what I've always known to be essential. The mantra is, "Always be creative."

Moving Words

        HERE                      I       AM

THERE       I            GO

12/14/11 Setlist

This is what I performed at Whistling Willie's in Cold Spring, New York last night:

My Boston Girl
Fiddle About
Action Painting

I Just Might

I'm thinking about going to Open Mic Nite this evening. I haven't  gone in several weeks. If I do, then I'll play a couple of songs I haven't done live before. It all depends on how I feel later on today. If I do, Then I'll put up my setlist later.

Black Coffee Cup

I like to have a cup of coffee in the morning. I'm having a cup right now as I'm typing this. The black coffee cup I'm drinking is the subject of my latest still life drawing. I was reading where Impressionist Painters rarely ever used the color black in their paintings. I've noticed in those works of art, dark subjects like a night sky or shaded areas are not colored with black. I thought this would be a fun subject matter to tackle. I went ahead and did color my subject matter black. Unlike my last still life drawing entitled STOOL, I did add shading to this drawing by using gray colors. And the coffee I drew is that of a dark brown, although I like to drink it black. I'll be putting the finishing touches on this drawing I call BLACK COFFEE CUP later today.

The Moon & The Sun

Next week will be the Winter Solstice. It's also known as, "The shortest day of the year." It's just after 6 AM where I am and the moon is setting in the west. Soon the sun will be rising in the east. The skies have been clear so I've been able to see this daily ritual.

By the light of the moon
And the bright beaming sun
Not a moment too soon
So go have some fun.

Unfinished Business

Wow...I have a lot of work to do.

Stool

I'm finishing a still live drawing entitled STOOL. I started it yesterday afternoon. Later on this morning, I plan on putting the final touches to it. This is a big creative breakthrough for me. I've struggled drawing still life and landscapes. It's something I want to do more of. I like the idea of looking at an item and recreating it on paper. It's like being in a photo developing room and seeing the picture appear right in front of you. It doesn't have to be exact, only an impression of what is in front of me. Another approach I have is that of drawing the adjective in front of me and molding it on the paper. When I was a kid in grade school, we would have art classes and they had a pottery wheel in the room. I remember Baby Boom hippies spinning that pottery wheel around and turning a glob of clay into something like a cup. My pencil or marker can mold an item on paper. Or it can develop an image like that of a photo. The still life I've drawn is in the style of Vincent van Gogh. It reminds me of his artwork that is entitled, "van Gogh's Chair and Pipe" and "Gauguin's Armchair." I plan on more still life and landscape drawings in the future.

Nonsense

NONSENSE = flel308965ujb,b,'rp4-3tk   kedf;;4rjoerjfpwrjrre;r;r;relrjer;r;;er;r;e;e;erlr;erlrkrlerlre               rktk4optprptjrt;b;t-65948DII2938IDKKX,C,2'1'FD'.//.FKRIIfkrkfvdkekdkcjej2938547gfjcjdjrjrjrjrjffmrmfmfmfmfmfjfjrf49475736eye92oel;;.fdkjduwjsjwusjwush2ush288   dj3jejdjeiei3kekehjkek?fk44or0439rj;

John Lennon Remembered

John Lennon was killed 31 years ago today and I remember that night well. It was a Monday evening and I had just arrived home from hanging out with friends. It was right around 11PM. I lived about 50 miles north of New York City and the weather was warm that night. My father was watching Monday Night Football and he said to me that John Lennon had been reported shot. I went into my bedroom and put the radio on wanting to find out more news. I remember putting on WNEW FM which at that time was a rock station. The DJ announced that John Lennon had been murdered and he began to cry. The song he played was LET IT BE. I then turned the dial and it seemed like every station was playing Beatles music. I also remember my sister knocking on my door telling me of the news. I went to bed and fell right asleep. When I woke up, I was hoping it was just a bad dream. But it wasn't. 31 years later, his spirit of peace & love along with his great music lives on. Nothing can kill that. 

The Rhythm Section Part 2

I did make it to Kingston last night and had a great time at the concert. This is a photo of Raissa St. Pierre on drums and Sara Lee on bass. They make a great rhythm section!

The Rhythm Section

I'm planning on going to a concert in Kingston, NY tonight. It features the rhythm section of Raissa St. Pierre on drums and Sara Lee on bass. I've performed live with Raissa before. She is so much fun to jam with. And I've always been a big fan of Sara Lee. She has performed with such groups as GANG OF FOUR and THE B-52s. Sara has quite an impressive musical resume. I've always wanted to meet her and I hope I do tonight. I'm looking forward to it.

20 Years Ago

I bought a diary 20 years ago in order to write about the things going on in my life. I always made sure to put an entry in over the course of the day. In many ways, my blog is more like a diary than anything else. Yet I don't put as much detail to the mundane issues of the day like I used to. Also, I might not write something on the blog every single day. It's easy for me to find myself away from the computer. 20 years ago, I didn't have access to all of the social media outlets going on now. I've heard the term narcissism to describe people who seem to put everything about themselves and want to give their opinions on things all of the time. I'll put it on my blog. Dear Diary...

35 More Miles

I just finished my Sunday Run. It was sunny and cold outside. The weather conditions were really nice though. The frost on the ground with the bright sunrise shining on it was very pretty. I ran 35 miles this week. My exercise training is going good. I plan on doing my Monday Run tomorrow. This way, I will stay on my training schedule for the upcoming week. KEEP ON TRUCKIN' 

Drawing & Writing

I'm writing more songs and drawing more pictures. I thought I'd let you know. Thanks.

Weekend Run

The weather is supposed to be sunny & dry all weekend. This will give me a chance to run without getting wet from any rain. I have particular routes I run over the weekend. I go in one direction on Saturday and another direction on Sunday. Both add up to 7 miles in distance. With these 2 training runs, I will have 35 miles of running under my feet this week. I call this, "My Winter Training." I don't think I'll be running any races for the next few months though. I don't like the cold weather. Yet I plan to keep on training for the upcoming year. And I do it most of all to try and stay healthy. It is an important part of my life. The sun is rising and sometimes the most difficult part of the training is just putting the exercise clothes on. Now that I've had breakfast, I'm ready to go.

Bass Buddy

The bass guitar has been my primary instrument for 34 years. On Christmas of 1977, when I was 14-years-old, my parents put a picture of a bass guitar in my stocking and told me they would buy me one when they had more money. About a month later, I owned a Guild B-301 bass guitar. I'm left handed and the music store I bought it from only had right handed bass guitars. So we had the strings put on backwards and it has remained that way ever since. I still practice and compose music on my Guild. What a great friend!

Testing 1 - 2 - 3

I tested out my new PA System this afternoon and I'm very happy with it. The vocals sounded quite strong. I also put the bass guitar through the PA too. I really didn't push the levels high on it today. I'm thinking that at most gigs I'll bring the bass rig. I know I can really fill out the sound. If I want to travel light, then I can always put the bass through the PA. I'm so glad I have it. Now it's time to book some shows.

My Favorite Concerts

Here is a list of some of my favorite concerts. These were fun gigs!

1976 - Big Tom @ The Ballroom in Clairemorris, Ireland
1978 - Yes @ Madison Square Garden in New York, NY
1979 - The Who @ Madison Square Garden in New York, NY
1980 - Pink Floyd @ Nassau Coliseum in Uniondale, NY
1980 - Grateful Dead @ Radio City Music Hall in New York, NY
1980 - Frank Zappa @ The Palladium in New York, NY
1981 - Santana @ Westchester Premiere Theater in Tarrytown, NY
1982 - Iggy Pop @ The Chance in Poughkeepsie, NY
1982 - Return To Forever @ The Palladium in New York, NY
1983 - David Bowie @ Madison Square Garden in New York, NY
2009 - Yoko Ono Plastic Ono Band @ Gilman Theatre in Brooklyn, NY

The Magic Of Music

Music has always been in my life. My first memories are that of listening to 45-rpm records on my phonograph. I use to get them from my grandfather's juke box. He owned a bar and when they replaced the records he would give them to me. It was quite an education. The music spanned from the 1950's & 1960's. It encompassed much of the popular music of the post World War II era. It was magic to me! Music has always been the driving force in my life and will continue to be so. It takes me everywhere.

Losing Love

It makes a good song title. I'm sure there is a song out there with that title. I'll have to look it up on YouTube or Google just to see. Losing love is easy for me to do. That's just how it goes. I sometimes think if I had just jumped through all the hoops like a circus act, I could have kept things going with the one I was with. Yet I would only be fooling myself thinking it could work. In order for the relationship to flourish, I would have to love and be loved. In the end, we didn't want each other enough. Tough to imagine even though I think about it everyday. Things like this end up being in the past for me tomorrow.

Work

WORK WORK WORK WORK WORK

Fall

Fallen leaves of yellow and orange
Gathered on the ground
Underneath the grass of green
Are patches of dirt brown.

Sun in Sunday

It is just after 6 o'clock in the morning and the sun hasn't risen yet. The nights get longer and weather gets colder where I am. Yet according to today's forecast, it's going to be sunny and seasonably mild. I like that.

Pat Irish Solo

I'm on my own now.

Working On The Sound

Play the bass and sing the song.

There & Where

                                                 An old building by the side of the road.
                                                    There they are. Where are they?
                                                            I know I have to go.
                                                     I can't be like the old building,
                                                         On the side of the road.

Framed

I've been feeling more prolific with my drawings these days. I framed a drawing I did when I took a trip to Amsterdam 10 years ago. I've kept old drawings and now I would like to put them in custom frames I made. There are a series of drawings I did on Bristol Paper that I would like to have custom framed by an art supply store. At some point, I will take photos of the artwork and show them online. In the meantime, I'll keep drawing, signing and framing.

PI System

I've purchased a Public Address System so I'm getting ready to perform gigs next year. I like to call my new setup The PI SYSTEM. I'm creating my own stage. When I'm performing, I feel like I'm combining not only music, but also storytelling, theater and dance. It will also give me an opportunity to display my artwork. The 2012 shows will be about my rock opera THE FRONT DESK. It's time to tour the music. Let the adventure begin.

Nothing Is Real

Whenever I'm in Central Park in New York City, I always like to stop by the location known as Strawberry Fields. It is a place dedicated to the memory of John Lennon. I would say it is probably one of the most popular places in all of Manhattan. I went there yesterday.

Leaves Of Light

                                                         Autumn has a glow of it's own.

The Blue Spruce

I wrote this song about 10 years ago. It reminds me of the Autumn months.

THE BLUE SPRUCE

The blue spruce is green
While others lose their leaves
Gold is on the ground
It brings you to your knees
Stuff them into bags
Throw them in the back
On you're way you go
head on into town

It's just a nursery
The baby is a tree
It wears a safety belt
The bulb it takes a seat

The blue spruce is green
You're out on 203
Off to Spencertown
Leaving Chatham now
Austerlitz you see
With Edna in your dreams
14 lines in all
You sing the sonnet song

And out on 22
You reach the borderline
New England's scenic view
You haven't got the time

The blue spruce is green

Comtemplative Man

                                                         CONTEMPLATIVE-MAN   
This is a photo I took of Mike Watt last year when he was on tour. It was in support of his punk rock opera entitled HYPHENATED-MAN. This record was a big inspiration to me when I wrote my rock opera THE FRONT DESK. The photo I took of him reminds me that I'm always thinking about love, work, music, art, politics, friends and so many other things.                                    

Summer Flashback

                    This photo was taken back in September. The Statue of Liberty is in the background

Before The Race

I took this photo of the Varrazano Narrows Bridge on the Staten Island side. It was the morning of the New York City Marathon 10 days ago.

Unoccupy Wall Street

                           This is about the only thing not revomed from Zuccotti Park today. 

The Front Desk Tour 2012

I'm going to buy a P.A. System this week so I can do gigs next year. It will give me an opportunity to go out and perform more. It will also allow me to promote my rock opera THE FRONT DESK. For the most part, I will be playing solo. Just the bass guitar and I. The plan is to have guest performers at some of the gigs too. The venues will be places like a coffeehouses or bars. Any live performances I've done over the past year have been at open mic gatherings. I will continue to do those settings. It's time however to put on shows of my own.

The Usual Things

Eat, drink, exercise, work, music, drawing and sleep.

Good Morning

Nice weather outside today.

2011 New York City Marathon Review

It would be fair to say that I am very disappointed in my finishing time of 4:20:44. I was hoping to finish under 4 hours like I did last year. That didn't happen. Instead, I hit the wall with 5 miles to go. When I look back, it was the fact that I didn't train properly for any of the marathons I ran this year. I needed to get longer training runs & bicyling in. Next year, when I do run a marathon, I will stick to the training plan because I know it works. Also, I don't lose sight of the fact that getting that medel at the end of the race is an accomplishment. It's just that I always want to do better the next time.

Marathon Weekend

I love marathon weekend in New York City. It looks like the weather will be perfect too. No rain or snow in the forecast. My over/under finishing time for the race is 4 hours. This is my 4th NYC Marathon in the last 6 years. I know the course well. Just 2 day away now.

Halloween Nor'easter

It's been a brutal week after the Nor'easter. The house I've been staying in hasn't had electricity for 5 days now. I've had to stay elsewhere. I'm trying to get ready for the New York City Marathon this weekend. No snow in the forecast so that's good.

One Week Away

Next Sunday is the New York City Marathon. It will be my 4th NYC Marathon in the last 6 years. With just 1 week to go, the focus of my attention is on the race. I love Marathon Week in NYC. Not too many things can take over The Big Apple, yet that event can. People from all over the world run in it. I do have the advantage of running it before, so I know the course well. The countdown to the race is on.

Snow

There was actually snow on the ground this morning. It felt like Winter outside. I went for a 7-mile run today and the sun was shining. It feels much warmer this afternoon. The weather forecast calls for more snow tomorrow. 2 more months before the first official day of Winter. Time to bundle up.

Gray Day

Here is a poem a wrote today.

GRAY DAY

The sky is Gray
On a cold Autumn day
Here on the news
I have the blues

The slow drizzle of rain
like tears from the pain
Fall to the ground
Not making a sound

What is left of the leaves
Fallen from the trees
Faded colors scattered
Orange and yellow tattered

The clouds hide the sun
When this day is done
The light of the night
shines tomorrow bright.

Stretching & Weights

I didn't go out and run today. Instead I just concentrated on stretching & weights for my exercise program. It always feels like I'm tuning my body like strings on a guitar when I do those exercises. I want to be in the best possible shape I can for the New York City Marathon next week.  

Taper Down

It's that time of year when the bicycle riding stops. Eventhough the sun is shining, It is windy and cool outside. I keep the bike inside. The New York City Marathon is less than 2 weeks away and I'm tapering down with my training. It will be a challenge to get under 4 hours this year. I haven't done it in the last 2 marathons I've run in. I feel like it's as much a mental thing as it is physical. I want so much to do it. We'll see how it goes.

Dear Diary

I was looking at a diary I wrote 20 years ago and I was determined back then to write an entry everyday. My book didn't have spell check and I wasn't using the dictionary. It was my routine to write about my life. Oh dear diary.

Friday Night

There has been plenty of rain this Summer & Autumn. The thunder woke me up last night. Tonight it is dark outside. The weekend begins.

28 Days Left

4 weeks from today, I will be running in the New York City Marathon. This will be my forth NYC Marathon in the last 6 years. My goal is to get under 4 hours. I was able to do that for the first time last year. My finishing time was 3:53:42. It has been a disappointing year for me so far in the 2 marathons I've run in. Both Long Island and Yonkers took me over 4 hour to complete. My training for New York City has been strong. The weather where I am is great, so I'll be riding my bike today. It's all about the fundamentals of training. I begin the taper down process as to start saving my energy for the marathon. Finishing the New York City Marathon under 4 hours would be a personal victory for me. Just 28 days remaining before the start of the race. I'm looking forward to it.

Post Half Marathon Reveiw

I didn't sleep very well last night. It was raining outside and all I could think about was running today's race and getting wet. It never did rain. The weather conditions were good. When the race started, I was determined to set an fast pace for myself. I did just that. It was back & forth with my pace afterwards. I finished with a time of 1:44:37. That's an 8 minutes per mile pace. For some reason, I felt like that extra gear wasn't there today. It might be a conditioning thing. 5 more weeks until the New York City Marathon. I'm looking forward to it.

Half Marathon

I'll be in New York City to run a Half Marathon tomorrow. It will take place in Central Park. I want to finish this race under 115 minutes. That means I will have to run at an 8 minute per mile pace. I hope to be able to do it. I had a good practice run yesterday and today I will concentrate on weights & stretching exercises. The weather might be an issue. the temperatures are supposed to drop and there could be rain in the forecast. I'm looking forward to the race. In 5 weeks, I will be running the New York City Marathon. It is Marathon Season.

Patriot's Day 2011

Patriot's Day 2011 - Here I am on a beautiful Spring day in Boston with the Marathon on one side of me and the Red Sox on the other. Winter seemed to arrive early in New England last night.  

Yonkers Marathon Review

I ran the Yonkers Marathon in a time of 4:19:33. It was my goal to at least get under 4 hours. Last year I ran it in 3:55:15. I just didn't feel good yesterday. It is important that I get better as a runner. A finish like that makes me more determined to improve. The New York City Marathon is 7 Weeks away and I will do everything I can to be in shape for the race. I'm running in a Half Marathon 13 days from now. It will work as a good measuring stick on how things are going. O.K. back to training.  

The Front Desk Setlist

Here is the set list to my rock opera THE FRONT DESK. It is about the events at and around the front desk of a hotel. There are 24 songs in all. Each song represents an hour of the day. The songs are put into 3 shifts which is the usual working schedule of a hotel.

The Front Desk

FIRST SHIFT
  7:00 AM - Grand Opening
  8:00 AM - Front Desk Agent
  9:00 AM - Rooms & Rates
10:00 AM - General Manager
11:00 AM - Group Sales
12:00 PM - Midday
  1:00 PM - Check Ins & Check Outs
  2:00 PM - Housemen & Housekeepers

SECOND SHIFT
  3:00 PM - Bucket Check
  4:00 PM - Hotel Owners
  5:00 PM - Reservations
  6:00 PM - Room Service
  7:00 PM - Walk Ins
  8:00 PM - Jacuzzi Suite
  9:00 PM - Wake Up Call
10:00 PM - All Quiet On The Front Desk Front

THIRD SHIFT
11:00 PM - Famous Guests
12:00 AM - Midnight
  1:00 AM - Night Audit
  2:00 AM - Under New Management
  3:00 AM - Continental Breakfast
  4:00 AM - 2 Weeks Notice
  5:00 AM - Grand Reopening
  6:00 AM - Front Desk Agent (Reprise)

The Art Of Running

I will be running the Yonkers Marathon in 12 days. All of my training is going into this race. I've run 7 miles each of the last 2 days. I plan to run another 7 miles tomorrow. I hope to get a good long bike ride in this weekend. It has been quite rainy this week. And then next week I have to ease up on the running and just do some light weights & plenty of stretching exercises. I like to call it, "The Coiled Spring Effect" where I've tightened up my body on a conditioned level and then my mind is set to handle the long distance. I do love to run. It has become a creative outlet for me. It is performance, dance and competition. At the very least, I want to run Yonkers under 4 hours. I did last year. Back to training.

Lyrics Written

I've put the lyrics to my rock opera THE FRONT DESK on this blog. I hope by the end of the year to perform a concert of it somewhere.

The Grand Reopening & Front Desk Agent (Reprise)

Here are the lyrics to the song FRONT DESK AGENT (REPRISE) from my rock opera THE FRONT DESK. The song  THE GRAND REOPENING is an instrumental.

5:00 AM - THE GRAND REOPENING (Instrumental)

6:00 AM - FRONT DESK AGENT (REPRISE)

In the hotel
At the front desk
On a busy day

Do your best
Help the guests
Please enjoy your stay

They want to know where to go
Just take Route 33
And they want to know where to get some lunch
We have a continental brunch

Thank you for your stay

2 Weeks Notice

Here are the lyrics to the song 2 WEEKS NOTICE from my rock opera THE FRONT DESK:

4:00 AM - 2 WEEKS NOTICE

My mind is made
Like a bed in a vacant room
14 more days
And it couldn't arrive too soon

I'm giving 2 weeks notice
I quit

Continental Breakfast

Here are the lyrics to the song CONTINENTAL BREAKFAST from my rock opera THE FRONT DESK:

3:00 AM - CONTINENTAL BREAKFAST

They went ahead and fired the chef
So now I have to set
The Continental Breakfast

Bagels, butter, coffee and tea
It's all up to me
The Continental Breakfast

Turn the Belgian Waffle Griddle
When it starts to beep
If you don't the batter burns
And I will have to scrape & clean

Lines of people here I see
Standing right in front of me
Wanting this and wanting that
What am I supposed to do

I'm through

Under New Management

Here are the lyrics to the song UNDER NEW MANAGEMENT from my rock opera THE FRONT DESK:

2:00 AM - UNDER NEW MANAGEMENT

Read the memo handed down
They say a new sheriff is in town
The owners went and sold there shares

There will be a new regime
Taking care of everything
You can't fight City Hall they say

Corporate logo from green to blue
What is old gets packaged new
It is just a business they say

It seems your gain will be my loss
The person I trained is now my boss
Now I know just where I stand

Under new management

Night Audit

Here are the lyrics to the song NIGHT AUDIT from my rock opera THE FRONT DESK:

1:00 AM - NIGHT AUDIT

Ghosts & Goblins at the front desk
Bride of Frankenstein wear a Gothic dress
Wolf man howling at another guest

It's Night Audit Time

College students want to use the pool
Don't they know they're breaking all the rules
I feel like I'm such a total tool

Can't you see It's like a show
Performing to the great unknown
It seems like anything goes

Famous Guests & Midnight

Here are the lyrics to the song MIDNIGHT from my rock opera THE FRONT DESK. The song MIDNIGHT is an instrumental:

11:00 PM - FAMOUS GUESTS

La La La La La

Fans they gather in the lobby square
Standing around or sitting in chairs
Hoping to see their favorite stars
Body Guards they keep them afar

Famous Guests I've met a few
They ask me what there is to do
I show them a local area map
They sign it with an autograph
For You

12:00 AM - MIDNIGHT (Instrumental)

All Quiet On The Front Desk Front

Here are the Lyrics to the song ALL QUIET ON THE FRONT DESK FRONT from my rock opera THE FRONT DESK:

10:00 PM - ALL QUIET ON THE FRONT DESK FRONT

All quiet on the front desk front

I feel like I'm in a trench

I feel like I'm in a foxhole

I'm waiting for a counterattack

Wake Up Call

Here are the lyrics to the song WAKE UP CALL from my rock opera THE FRONT DESK:

9:00 PM - WAKE UP CALL

I need a wake up call
I would like if for 5 AM.
I'm in Room 309
Goodnight and I'll see you then

Jacuzzi Suite

Here are the lyrics to the song JACUZZI SUITE from my rock opera THE FRONT DESK:

8:00 PM - JACUZZI SUITE

King Bed Queen
You And Me
One For Two
Me And You

First Class Hospitality
Love In The Jacuzzi Suite

Flowers Bloom
In Our Room
Champagne Toast
You're The Most
Candy Sweet
Sauna Heat
Whirlpool Tub
We're In Love

Walk Ins

Here are the lyrics to the song WALK INS from my rock opera THE FRONT DESK:

7:00 PM - WALK INS

They want to know
If we have rooms here for the night
I tell them
That we are completely occupied

Walk Ins
They end up walking out the door
There are no vacancies on any floor

They want to know
What is going on around
I tell them
There is a convention of the clowns

Room Service

Here are the lyrics to the song ROOM SERVICE from my rock opera THE FRONT DESK:

6:00 PM - ROOM SERVICE

What is it they want
What is it they need
They would like some towels
They would like some sheets

Room Service

Supper on a tray
In the room they dine
Dinner for the day
With a glass of wine
What more do they want
What more do they need
They would like more towels
They would like more sheets

Reservations

Here are the lyrics to the song RESERVATIONS from my rock opera THE FRONT DESK:

5:00 PM - RESERVATIONS

Do you have Triple A
Do you have AARP
Do you have the Government Rate
Can I get the room for free
Well can I get that room for free

Reservations
Reservations please

Do you have connecting rooms
Do you have the Jacuzzi Suite
Do you have the Romance Package

Hotel Owners

Here are the lyrics to the song HOTEL OWNERS from my rock opera THE FRONT DESK:

4:00 PM - HOTEL OWNERS

They are Titans of their time
Looking at the Bottom Line
They buy hotels by the score
Maybe they will buy some more

Hotel Owners
They gather in the Boardroom
Hotel Owners are the few

Wine & dine
Wheel & deal
Those budget Cuts well that's for real
They talk about your business sense
At the price of my expense

Bucket Check

Here are the lyrics to the song BUCKET CHECK from my rock opera THE FRONT DESK:

3:00 PM - BUCKET CHECK

Bucket Check
I need to match the name & number

101 - Nick Bisanz
104 - Mark LaFalce
107 - Raissa St. Pierre 
111 - Christopher Pritchard

202 - Billy Name
205 - Milo Rock
208 - Scooter McGoo
213 - Pst Irish

Housemen & Housekeepers

Here are the lyics to the song HOUSEMEN & HOUSEKEEPERS from my rock opera THE FRONT DESK:

2:00 PM - HOUSEMEN & HOUSEKEEPERS

Housemen & Housekeepers

Housemen cleans the floors
Housemen cleans the doors
Housemen cleans up everything
Housemen cleans up more

Housekeepers clean up all the rooms
Vacuum rugs with electric brooms
Housekeepers clean up all the mess
Lost & Fournd find a wedding dress

Check Outs & Check Ins

Here are the lyrics to the song CHECK OUTS &CHECK INS from my rock opera THE FRONT DESK:

1:00 PM - CHECK OUTS & CHECK INS

I would like a late check out
I would like an early check in

I want a late check out
I want an early check in
I need a late check out
I need an early check in
I demand a late check out
I demand an early check in
I want a late check out
I want an early check in

Group Sales & Midday

Here are the lyrics to the song GROUP SALES from my rock opera THE FRONT DESK. The song MIDDAY is an instrumental:

11:00 AM - GROUP SALES

I work in Group Sales
Put it through my voicemail
I need to block some rooms
spoke to the Bride & Groom

They need to extend their stay
For up to 30 days
I will now send a fax
Please sign the contracts

12:00 PM - MIDDAY (Instrumental)

General Manager

Here are the lyrics to the song GENERAL MANAGER from my rock opera THE FRONT DESK:

10:00 AM - GENERAL MANAGER

I am the General Manager
I work most everyday
I need to get the time cards
This way you will get paid

I am the General Manager
We need to get this done
We need to pass inspection
I feel I'm under the gun

Rooms & Rates

Here are the lyrics to the song ROOMS & RATES from my rock opera THE FRONT DESK:

9:00 AM - ROOMS & RATES

I'm calling for your rooms & rates
I'm speaking with an agent named Kate
23 at 159
The phones are ringing here all of the time

Front Desk Agent

Here are the lyrics to the song FRONT DESK AGENT from my rock opera THE FRONT DESK:

8:00 AM - FRONT DESK AGENT

In the hotel
At the front Desk
On a busy day

Do your best
Help the guests
Please enjoy your stay

They want to know where to go
Just get off Exit 23
And they want to know where to get some lunch
Our chef is now serving brunch

Lyrics To The Rock Opera

I'm going to start putting the lyrics to my rock opera THE FRONT DESK up on my blog. Ironically, the first song is an instrumental.

7:00 AM - GRAND OPENING (Instrumental)

Cast Of Characters

Here are the cast of characters in my rock opera THE FRONT DESK:

Front Desk Agents
Hotel Managers
Hotel Owners
Hotel Guests
Hotel Customers
Housemen
Housekeepers
Fans

Libretto

Here is the Libretto to my rock opera THE FRONT DESK:

Once upon a time, there was a hotel. And at that hotel, there was a front desk. Everything seemed to take place in and around the front desk. It's where the agents looked over the activities of the day. Managers hung around to see how things were running. Owners would stop by to find out how the place was running. Housekeepers walked by the front desk in order to punch in the time clock to start their workday. And guests would check at the front desk and stop by for general information. Companies, owners, managers, entry level employees and guests will come and go. Yet the front desk will remain right where it is. The one constant in an ever changing industry.

Setlist Changes

I made song changes to my rock opera THE FRONT DESK. There will not be a song called BUCKET CHECK PART TWO. Instead, the song BUCKET CHECK will appear only once. Also, I added a new song called ROOM SERVICE to the rock opera.

The Second Shift

Here are the 8 songs to middle section of my rock opera THE FRONT DESK:

  3:00 PM - Bucket Check Part One
  4:00 PM - Hotel Owners
  5:00 PM - Reservations
  6:00 PM - Celebrity Guests
  7:00 PM - Walk Ins
  8:00 PM - Jacuzzi Suite
  9:00 PM - All Quite On The Front Desk Front
10:00 PM - Wake Up Call

Things might change here too. There might not be a BUCKET CHECK PART TWO and I could possibly move CELEBRITY GUESTS to the 11:00 PM Third Shift Section. I could also add an Overture/Underture instrumental to rock opera. I'll keep you posted.

The Third Shift

Here is the setlist to the last 8 songs on my rock opera THE FRONT DESK.

THE THIRD SHIFT

11:00 PM - Bucket Check Part 2
12:00 AM - Midnight
 1:00 AM - Night Audit
 2:00 AM - Continental Breakfast
 3:00 AM - 2 Weeks Notice
 4:00 AM - Under New Managemant
 5:00 AM - Grand Reopening
 6:oo AM - Front Desk Agent (Reprise)

The First Shift

Here is the setlist to the first 8 songs of my rock opera THE FRONT DESK. There are 24 songs in all. Each song represents an hour of the day.

FIRST SHIFT

  7:00 AM - Grand Opening
  8:00 AM - Front Desk Agent
  9:00 AM - Rooms & Rates
10:00 AM - General Manager
11:00 AM - Group Sales
12:00 PM - Midday
  1:00 PM - Check Outs & Check Ins
  2:00 PM - Housemen & Housekeepers

I'm thinking about putting the song BUCKET CHECK PART 1 in the first shift instead of MIDDAY. We shall see.

My Boston Girl

Here are the lyrics to my new song:

MY BOSTON GIRL

I love my Boston Girl
She is the greatest in the world.

Let's take a trip to Portland, Maine
I'm hot as a lobster under the sun
The Red Sox are playing in a baseball game
I never knew that getting lost could be so fun.

I love my Boston Girl
She is the greatest in the world.

My Boston Girl
The greatest in the world.

My Kind Of Weather

It is a beautiful day today. The sun is shining and the skies are blue. I went out for a 7-mile run and I feel like I'm in good training form. Tonight I plan on a collaborative art project and it should be framed by the end of the day. I love getting creative things done.

Fine Lines

I finished an Action Drawing entitled "FINE LINES" and it's now in an 8.5" x 11"  frame.

Rooms & Rates

Here are the lyrics to the first song I've written from my rock opera THE FRONT DESK:

ROOMS & RATE

I'm calling for your rooms & rate
I'm speaking to an agent named Kate
23 at 159
The phones are ringing here all of the time.

KING SLACKER

It's been a long time since I wrote anything down here. Lazy days indeed!

Back At It

O.K., so I'll keep doing the things as planned and then the changes will happen. Keep moving around and never settling down. Time for another move.

My Next Move

Making future plans. That seems to be what I'm all about. It just goes flying around in my brain. I sure do love to change things around. I'll just keep making those changes.

No Playing It Safe

Just when I think I'm going into reclusive mode, I end up putting myself out there and seeing what the results will be. It's the only way I know how to live. I'll reach a point though where I'm feeling totally burnt out and I don't want to know anything. I'm pretty much at that spot now. Yet I'm not so inactive that I didn't blog today.

Snowpocalypse

It looks like I'll be staying at the hotel again. Another blizzard is on the way and I think I'll do some drawings there tonight. Maybe a still life or landscape in the hotel room will be my plan. Time to do weight & stretching. If I get out there and run today that would make it 3 days in a row.

Workout & Work

I was able to get my Sunday run in. It was cold, yet the sun was shining and it looked like a Winter Wonderland. I'll be working at the hotel this afternoon.

Action Painting

These are lyrics to one of the most requested songs I've ever written:

ACTION PAINTING

Jackson Pollock
Action Painter
Willem De Kooning
I'll See You Later
Jasper Johns
Action Painting In The 20th Century

Slow Bones

Another 7 miles under my feet today. Since I worked late last night, I didn't get out there and run until noontime. I didn't move fast but at least the workout is done. Time to do some artwork. I like to do what I call SCRIBBLE ART. My approach is, "Jackson Pollock meets Color By Numbers."

Your Words Are Heard

Here are lyrics to a new song I wrote:

YOUR WORDS ARE HEARD

Life in a cell
Living in Hell
Winning a Pulitzer Prize
Telling the truth turns to lies
All on the 10 O'Clock News
Spreading political views

Your words are heard

Live Open Mic
On Wednesday Night
Singing of love to a girl
Lyrics are changing the world
Having a drink at the bar
She gets the keys to your car

Your words are heard

It Keeps Me Running

I ran 7 miles this morning. I'm wanting to run 30 miles this week. My first race won't be until at least March so I'll just keep training. The Winter can be tough to get out in. I'm doing more stretching & weights too. I need to in order to get in better shape. I'll just keep at it.

357 Days Until Christmas

I did perform at the open mic at Whistling Willie's in Cold Spring, New York last Wedneday. Here was my setlist: ACTION PAINTING - FREEZING - BOOM BOOM MANCINI - COSMIC CHARLIE. The next night I had dinner with 3 childhood friends of mine. We all graduated from Garrison Union Free School together in 1977. It was great to be with Karin, Maureen and Terese again!